FIR filed against Vishal Dadlani, Tehseen Poonawalla over 'monkery' tweet on Jain religious leader

Mumbai: A police complaint has been registered against Vishal Dadlani and Tehseen Poonawalla in Delhi after the singer's tweet on Digambar Jain guru Tarun Sagar leader’s address to the Haryana assembly sparked a controversy.

The complaint was made by a member of an organisation named Jain Life at the Shahadra police station in Delhi.

A statement issued by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Anil Jain, who called Dadlani an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, and Tehseen Poonawala a 'Congress supporter' - who was also mentioned in the complaint for 'insulting tweets' on the Jain monk, said their comments were 'indecent, undignified and petty'.

Dadlani had on Saturday stirred a controversy after he mocked Digambar Jain guru Tarun Sagar for making a speech in Haryana Assembly, naked. (The monks in Digambara sect of Jainism do not wear clothes, as a symbol of shunning worldly possessions and indifference to earthly emotions.)

Poonawalla, in a tweet, had said, "Why is this ‘naked’ man ‘holy’ even if he walks ‘nude’ in the state assembly while a woman would be termed slut (sic)".

Soon after the singer tweeted on the Jain guru, he was ridiculed by several Jain sect followers.

However, Dadlani was quick to reply with an apology where he also appealed everyone to not mix religion and politics. 

"I'm sorry to have offended you and your beliefs too, Sir. My intent was not to hurt anyone. Spoke without thinking," the singer tweeted.

I apologise again, to the Jain Community, & all others offended. But I beg you all not to support religion in governance, for India's sake.

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016

I apologise wholeheartedly. My tweet was against the overlap of religion & governance. Not any particular religion. https://t.co/YM40O7CzUA

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016

Dadlani, who was a leader of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) later announced to quit the party for offending the Jain community with his tweet. 

It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation.

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016